Thursday, July 26, 2012

With the action-packed days of summer flying by, it's hard for me to believe that school will be starting up before I know it. Where does the time go?

While we have had a busy schedule up until this point (a combination of sports, activities, play dates, events, vacations and more) I'm pretty certain that my kids would both agree that it has been fun. However, to ensure that our on-the-go days are more likely to be filled with laughter and joy rather than exhaustion and tears, it has been clear that they need to begin with a good night's sleep.

Although the girls have always had their favorite blankets and stuffed animals, there is a new addition to our home that has been helping increase the number of relaxing nights around here: the Tranquil Turtle from Cloud b.

Cloud b, the creators of amazing products such as their Twilight Turtle, Sleep Sheep and Gentle Giraffe (as well as On the Go versions of each one) already knows how to help soothe babies and children to sleep with lights and sounds. This year's new innovation for a happier bedtime routine comes in the form of a lovable sea pal, the Tranquil Turtle.

Combining both sight and sound features in one soft, soothing character, Tranquil Turtle is a unique and attractive way to provide comfort from a calm and relaxing environment. Whether you're at home or on vacation, bringing along this underwater friend can lead to better sleep for the whole family!

When it arrived, this turtle had us all in awe even before it was out of the box.

Available in the aquamarine that we received or a pretty amethyst color, this turtle arrived in all of its cuteness with a sweet little storybook.

After admiring how this toy is part soft and cuddly and part crisp and hard, it was ultimately its adorable face that kept drawing us back for more hugs. How can anyone resist this cute grin?

Although we were already happy with the attractive design, when it came time to put the Tranquil Turtle to use, it wasn't long before we were all a bit enthralled with the magical underwater light and sound display that it contains.

I appreciated that Cloud b provides access to the battery compartment on the bottom of this turtle, while also covering it with a soft piece of fabric (that attaches with Velcro) so that it doesn't irritate skin when being hugged.

Due to three AA batteries (already installed), we simply had to utilize the easy buttons on the shell of the Tranquil Turtle to begin the soothing options.

Featuring a power button on the left, a music button in the middle and a wave button on the right (and increase and decrease buttons underneath for volume control), the Tranquil Turtle is extremely easy to use — whether by parents or children.

We immediately took this into a dark bedroom, pressed the power button and were amazed. The shell lit up with a beautiful blue light...

...and, upon looking up, our jaws dropped. It looked as though there was water flowing across the ceiling!

By pressing the water button on the back of the shell, it stops the movement of the waves and the blue light stays illuminated on the ceiling. Along with the option of the gentle wave motion, the music button switches between the soothing sounds of ocean currents or undersea melodies (or no sound).

Finally, on the bottom of the Tranquil Turtle there is a small dial that controls the brightness of the light, in case having the blue light a bit dimmer is better for the young user.

Altogether, the total effect is a calming, relaxing, somewhat-magical environment that is perfect for sleep (including an automatic shut-off after 23 minutes so that there is no worry of running the batteries down all night long)... and we love it! The Tranquil Turtle has become a fast favorite with both of my girls and they adore having it nearby whether they are awake or asleep.

As well as providing a soothing atmosphere around the house, I love that the Tranquil Turtle is easily portable and would be great for any family travels. No matter if you have a baby that uses this plush pal as a part of a bedtime routine or if you have a toddler that is sure to get more sleep if they have an item that provides a familiar environment, Cloud b has ensured that the whole family can get a better night's rest no matter where they are.

Combining the senses of sight and sound into one fun, high quality, peaceful product, the Tranquil Turtle retails from Cloud b for $54.95 (or quite a bit less on Amazon.com). This cute, gender neutral item would make a wonderful gift for any young child or mom-to-be, as it can take the place of a night light as well as a sound machine for years to come.

And, thanks to the generosity of Cloud b, one person will soon be able to provide a gentle, soothing atmosphere for the child in their life as well, because...

One lucky person will win a Tranquil Turtle from Cloud b!

(Enter with the Rafflecopter form below. If you have any questions or problems entering, there is a video tutorial found here that can help.)

A big thank you to Cloud b for providing a Tranquil Turtle for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

This would be for my daughter, Miss O, when she transitions out of her crib -- we've been debating which cloud b item to get her and I think I love this one even more so then their twilight (which is also pretty cool!)